The worst pair

ARIA POV

I sat at a secluded corner table on the ground floor of the library, staring at my phone screen with a racing heart.

A warm, deep flush crept up my neck, turning my cheeks bright pink. I read the latest text message from "Blake" over and over again until the words blurred together.

[[phone]]: Give me a name, baby. I promise you, I’m going to teach your stepbrother a lesson he’ll never forget.

"Oh my gosh," I murmured softly to myself, pressing my warm palms against my face. A small, giddy smile spread across my lips. "How can someone be so protective? He's so sweet... so incredibly sweet."

To think that Crestwood's golden boy, the star captain of the hockey team, was sitting somewhere on this campus actually offering to fight my bully for me made my chest swell with a dangerous kind of hope. For the first time in months, I felt like I had someone in my corner, someone strong who actually cared about my feelings.

I gently typed back my reply, hiding my face behind my hair.

[Secret Girl]: You don't have to fight him for me, Captain. Just knowing you care is more than enough. I'll handle him.

I sent the message, locked my phone, and carefully slid it into my backpack. I took a deep breath, trying to smooth down my messy sweater before heading out of the library for my next class.

Unfortunately, my high spirits were completely crushed the moment I stepped into the large lecture hall for Science and Economics.

Jaxon was already there, sitting in the back row with his usual crew. Blake was leaning against the desk beside him, while Chloe sat on Jaxon's left, twirling a strand of her blonde hair.

The second I walked down the carpeted aisle looking for an empty seat near the front, Jaxon’s icy gray eyes locked onto me. A dark, arrogant smirk spread across his handsome face.

"Hey, look, everyone! The human bowling ball made it to class!" Jaxon announced in a loud, clear voice that carried across the room.

A wave of snickers and quiet laughter rippled through the students.

I kept my head down, my knuckles turning white around the straps of my backpack. I quickly pulled out a chair near the front window, sitting down as fast as I could. But Jaxon wasn't finished.

Throughout the entire first half of the lecture, he made it his personal mission to make my life a living nightmare. Every time Professor Thomas turned his back to write on the whiteboard, Jaxon would crumble up small pieces of paper and flick them at the back of my head.

Clack. A paper ball hit my shoulder.

Clack. Another one bounced off my dark hair.

"Oops, missed the target," Chloe giggled softly behind me.

"Don't worry, she's a big target, hard to miss," Jaxon whispered back loud enough for the two rows around us to hear.

More giggles followed. I bit the inside of my cheek so hard I tasted copper, squeezing my pen until my fingers went numb. I stared straight at the whiteboard, refusing to turn around, refusing to let him see the hot tears burning behind my eyelids. Just survive the hour, I told myself. Just survive without causing any trouble. 

Professor Thomas finally turned around, tapping his wooden pointer against the desk to restore order. The room fell quiet.

"Alright, settle down, everyone," Professor Thomas said, adjusting his glasses as he looked over the classroom. "Before we dismiss today, I have an important announcement regarding your major term project for this semester."

He cleared his throat, holding up a stack of thick syllabus sheets.

"This will be an intensive, hands-on scientific research and economic analysis project," the professor explained. "It counts for fifty percent of your final grade. Because of the heavy workload, you will be working in pairs."

A loud murmur of excitement spread through the room as students immediately turned to look at their best friends. Chloe reached over to grab Jaxon's arm, while Blake leaned over to slap Jaxon's shoulder.

"Now, settle down," Professor Thomas interrupted, raising his hand. "To ensure fairness and force you out of your comfort zones, I have already selected one official pair myself based on midterm standings. The rest of you may pick your own partners."

Professor Thomas picked up his clipboard, scanning the paper line by line.

"The pair I have assigned will be working on the advanced data tracking module," the professor stated firmly, looking up over the rim of his glasses. "Jaxon and Aria Hayes."

The entire lecture hall went dead, suffocatingly silent.

My heart instantly stopped beating. The blood drained completely from my face, leaving me cold and lightheaded.

Beside me, Chloe gasped in horror. Jaxon froze in his seat, his arrogant smile vanishing in a split second, replaced by a look of pure, unadulterated rage.

"Wait, Professor! You can't be serious!" Jaxon shouted, slamming his hand down on his wooden desk as he stood up. "I am not working with her!"

"My decision is final, Mr. Hayes," Professor Thomas said sternly, without breaking eye contact. "You two scored at the opposite ends of the last assessment, and this pairing will benefit both of your academic standing. You will work together, or you will both fail this course."

I sat frozen in my chair, staring at the front of the classroom in utter, paralyzing shock. My mind raced in circles as Jaxon's furious glare burned into the back of my neck like a branding iron.

What? I thought, my throat tightening so hard I could barely breathe. I'm being paired with my worst enemy?